The Venice International Film Festival will take place between August 27 and September 5, highlighting some of the most exciting and promising movies that could be in contention for major awards next year. The festival is typically a good indicator of which movies may show up at the Oscars, and Venice’s 2025 lineup doesn’t seem to be any different.

Last year’s Venice International Film Festival saw the premieres of Luca Guadagnino’s Queer, Pedro Almodovar’s The Room Next Door, and Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist, all of which ended up being in the conversation in some form during the awards race. It’s impossible to predict exactly which films will achieve the same feat from this year’s lineup, but there are certain criteria that can help us guess.

Bugonia

Yorgos Lanthimos’ Bugonia is already one of the most talked-about projects premiering at this year’s Venice Film Festival, and it’s easy to understand why. Not only does the film have two-time Academy Award winner Emma Stone in a bold supporting role, but Lanthimos’ recent outings have all performed incredibly well at the Oscars.

The film centers around two conspiracy theorists who capture a powerful CEO and imprison her, suspecting that she’s an alien who has come to infiltrate and conquer humanity. Bugonia seems like more of an all-out comedy than Lanthimos’ past works, which is typically a negative when it comes to Oscar prospects, but there’s no use betting against this hugely talented cast and awards-friendly crew.

Frankenstein

The Academy Awards are typically frosty towards the horror genre, with only a handful of horror movies nominated in the Oscars’ history, but Frankenstein definitely seems like one of those projects that could break the trend. Directed by Oscar winner Guillermo del Toro, the film is reportedly a faithful, Gothic interpretation of Mary Shelley’s timeless 1818 novel of the same name.

Frankenstein has frequently been described as Del Toro’s pᴀssion project, as the filmmaker has been trying to get the film made for almost three decades. With a strong cast featuring Oscar Isaac, Mia Goth, and Jacob Elordi, it’s easy to imagine this blockbuster sweeping up some acting and technical awards, even if the film doesn’t live up to the high expectations.

A House Of Dynamite

It’s been eight years since Kathryn Bigelow made Detroit, her last feature-length movie, and she’s back this year with A House of Dynamite. Even though she’s become more selective with her projects, her name still holds a great deal of respect as the first woman to win Best Director at the Academy Awards.

Starring Idris Elba and Rebecca Ferguson, the new film takes place within the confines of the White House as the American government reckons with the consequences of an impending missile attack. It feels reminiscent of Bigelow’s work on The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty.

Bigelow is typically known for her sharply political storytelling and intense, blood-pumping action scenes, so A House of Dynamite is definitely one of the films to look out for at Venice this year. The film will be available to stream globally on Netflix in October, a prime release window for Oscar contenders.

Jay Kelly

There are certain films that just exude the energy of an Oscar hopeful, and Jay Kelly is one of those projects. Written and directed by Noah Baumbach and starring George Clooney, Adam Sandler, and Laura Dern, the film details the relationship between an aging Hollywood star and his long-time manager during a business trip through Europe.

Baumbach’s Marriage Story performed exceptionally at the Academy Awards in 2020, picking up six nominations and leading Laura Dern to a Best Supporting Actress win. Whether or not it ranks among Baumbach’s best movies is yet to be seen, but it will certainly be a major talking point of next year’s awards season.

No Other Choice

Although Park Chan-wook’s previous film, Decision to Leave, was tragically snubbed at the Oscars in 2023, this year could be the perfect moment for the South Korean director to get the acclaim he deserves. No Other Choice seems like one of Park’s most accessible and audience-friendly movies in years, which is always a good sign for the Academy Awards.

The film centers around a jaded worker who loses his job and decides that the only way to get back onto the employment ladder is by taking out his compeтιтion. It seems like a very slick, dynamic story of violence and revenge that’s driven by some sharp social commentary about classism and inequality, which is something the Oscars typically love.

In The Hand Of Dante

Julian Schnabel is one of the most divisive and experimental filmmakers of his generation, and In The Hand of Dante marks his long-awaited return to filmmaking after 2018’s At Eternity’s Gate. The film centers around an antique copy of Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy, which finds its way into the hands of American journalist Nick Tosches in the modern day.

While the narrative doesn’t seem as accessible and audience-friendly as you’d expect from the Academy Awards, the film’s ensemble cast is what really demands attention. Led by Oscar Isaac, In The Hands of Dante also stars Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa, Gerard Butler, Al Pacino, and Martin Scorsese. This level of fame is sure to bring some attention to the film, no matter how it performs among critics.

After The Hunt

Luca Guadagnino’s movies have a mixed track record at the Academy Awards; while Call Me by Your Name was a notorious Oscars darling, his more recent projects have been almost totally snubbed. Bones and All, Queer, and Challengers went home with zero nominations despite their undeniable critical acclaim. Thankfully, After the Hunt feels like the kind of stylish drama the Oscars won’t be able to resist.

Starring Andrew Garfield, Julia Roberts, and Ayo Edebiri, Guadagnino’s latest feature tells the story of a professor whose life and career are thrown into disarray when one of her students levels a serious accusation against her colleague. While Challengers and Bones and All were immediately at a disadvantage due to their genre storytelling, After the Hunt feels like a more accessible, universal film.

The Smashing Machine

After working together for several years, this summer will see the release of the Safdie brothers’ two debut projects as solo filmmakers, and they’re both generating huge awards buzz. While Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme is eyeing a slightly later release, Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine will have its world premiere at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival.

The movie follows the turbulent career of UFC legend Mark Kerr, played by Dwayne Johnson in one of the most dramatic and demanding roles of his career. Even before the film’s premiere, Johnson has become one of the frontrunners for the 2026 Oscars due to the sheer level of transformation required for him to embody the spirit of this loud, bold character.

It’s hard to say which of the Safdie brothers will ultimately come out on top during next year’s awards season, but The Smashing Machine definitely seems like the more awards-friendly movie on the surface. From its subject matter to its buzzy lead performance, there’s a lot to look forward to here.

Following in the footsteps of movies like The Fighter and Southpaw, the film promises a very in-depth examination of this fighting legend and his unraveling legacy. Its Venice reception should give a better idea of how it’ll hold up when the Oscars roll around.